The Campbell Soup Company unveiled a new 80,000 square foot addition to their headquarters in Camden yesterday.

Camden has been Campbell's home since 1869. In 2007, the company announced it would stay in Camden, one of the nation's poorest cities, and expand their headquarters and oversee redevelopment of the surrounding — mostly desolate — areas, turning it into a suburban-style office park for other businesses.

Campbell's President and CEO Douglas R. Conant said in a press release, "The completion of this building is the result of a partnership between Campbell, the State of New Jersey, Camden County and the city of Camden. It is a testament to the years of hard work by teams of people committed to a common purpose and determined to overcome whatever obstacles that may stand in the way. We are proud to call Camden home. We have deep roots here, not just on this campus but throughout the city and the entire region. Campbell remains fully committed to the city and its neighborhoods."

Designed by Philadelphia-based architects KlingStubbins, the Campbell Employee Center is part of a broader effort that includes plans for a 100-acre office park in Camden's Gateway District. Campbell plans to invest up to $93 million in the project, which includes its new building, ongoing enhancements to its existing facilities and 40-acre campus, and the acquisition of land for future development. The state, county and city have invested approximately $23 million in the area's infrastructure to improve roads, as well as water and sewer upgrades, the press release said.